THE COMPANY

Midwest Granite was incorporated as Private limited Company on December 11, 1981, under the Indian companies act 1956 with an objective of developing competence and expertise in the fields of exploration, mining, processing and exports of natural stone.

Over the last 2 decades, Midwest has established itself as a very strong player in the domain of Exploring, Mining, Processing and exports of natural Stone products. The company that has started in a modest way now employs around 1000 personnel including managerial, technical, Skilled and unskilled people across their different exploration, Mining and Processing sites spread over India & Srilanka. Midwest has its overseas wing marketing at United States of America apart from the corporate marketing at its head quarters at Hyderabad, India. Today Midwest has established business relations with 28 countries around the world.

The company is continuously striving to establish a lead over its competitors by introduction of new stone varieties in the market by acquiring new quarries, mechanizing the existing quarries, adopting and deploying latest technology and equipments for quality and productivity enhancement and adhering to the stringent safety norms of operation to improve overall efficiency and ensure a congenial working atmosphere.

The company enjoys a good reputation for its products through its quality and service and it is evident from the growing strength of the business year after year. In spite of the crisis in granite industry due to recessionary trends all over, the company could not only sustain but grow and post good results consistently. The Company has expanded and broad based its product range by expanding into new areas such as Marble, Slate and Limestone which has wider market base. It is continuously modernizing its operations and enhancing its capacities in order to emerge as one of the leading natural stone companies. In this direction the company has recently acquired the assets of GRAPCO GRANITES Limited, Bangalore, India constituting a large processing capacity.

THE ACTIVITIES

The company has multi-locational operations of Exploration, Mining and Processing and also involved in Trading.

MINING OPERATIONS:

The Company operates several dimensional stone quarries in different parts of India. It has a core team of professionals specializing in mine development, production planning, operation, quality control and logistics. It employs best equipment, technology tools and high quality consumables resulting in higher quality of blocks, safety standards, mineral recovery and better environment protection. Following are some of the major mining operations of the company.

Black Galaxy from Cheemakurthy

Black Galaxy Granite mine is located in South Eastern India. This is the Biggest mining operations of the company in terms of production. The quarry is located in R.L.Puram Village, Chimakurthy Mandal, Prakasham Dist, Andhra Pradesh State, India. The mine is spread over 150,000 sqm. The deposit is a gabbroitic anorthosite more towards gabbro with dark gray, black feldspar giving uniform dark black background with bronzite standing out in contrast as gold sparkles. This is a part of anorthosite complex of Chimakurthy, The stone has medium grain size is uniform. The stone is dean and good recovery on processing The deposit yields very large blocks for Slabs, Tiles, Monuments.

The quarry Produces 12000 cbm of Rough Granite Blocks per annum in mixed size. Midwest is one of the largest

Producers of Black Galaxy granite in the world. The Galaxy thus produced is Medium Galaxy and is Uniformly spread. The quarry deploys some of the Most advanced machinery inducing the latest Giro Drift from Perform, Twin master from Boart Longyear, BEML 2 No's, CAT 330C 2 No's, Wiresaw machines, Compressors, Derrick Cranes, Dumpers, Tippers, Gen sets, etc. The quarry employs around 300 people and i$ being operated since 8 years.

Another very large quarry of Black Galaxy Granite at Cheemakurthy is being operated under our associated company Victorian Granite Pvt. Ltd. Producing about 700 cbm per month the quarry is a large area spreading out 25 acres and has sufficient reserves for liberal extraction of stone for over 10 years. The material produced in the quarry is with Medium Gold specs and is very uniform and is highly popular in the world market. The company exports the Rough Blocks mainly to Italy, China and Taiwan.

Premium Black from Gumballi

The Dark or Premium Mack quarry is located in Oumballi Village Near Elandur, Kollegal Taluk, Chamarajanagar District. The deposit extends to 10000 Sqm with support area of 20000 sqm. This deposit is a basic intrusion more the nature of norite / dolerite extending east west in leaner in the charnokite granulitic dark of Precambrian shield area in South India.

The Primary and secondary sawing are executed through diamond wire saw whereas line drills are used for territory (final) separation and block squaring and dressing. No explosives will be used in production operations. The stone is clean and good recovery on processing. The deposit yields very large blocks used for Slabs, Tiles, Monuments.

This New quarry Produces 1800 CBM per annum. The Machinery deployed is Volvo Excavator, 2 Compressors, Derrick, Wiresaw, Generator set. The quarry provides employment to about 30 people. The quarry is in operation for the past 1 year.

Absolute Black Granite from Arpanaplly

Absolute Black Granite located in South Central India. This is one of the largest mining operations of the company. The Mine is located in Arpanapally Village, Kesamudram Mandal, Warangal Dist, Andhra Pradesh State, India. The actual mining occupies 150,000 sqm with support area of 300,000 sqm. A basic intrusive rock more in the form of dyke with country rock being khandolite. The leaner body extent approximately Kilometer tang with width varying between 60 - 70 mtrs. Primary and secondary sawing are executed through diamond wire saw whereas line drills are used for territory (final) separation and block squaring and dressing. No explosives will be used in production operations. The stone is dean and good recovery on processing. This deposit too yields very large blocks.

The Production is around 3000 cbm per annum in mixed sizes which come in Shades of Dark, Medium and light The Machinery used :: Excavators - CAT 330B, Compressors, Tippers, Gensets, Wiresaw machines, etc. and the mine employs about 150 people. The quarry is being operated since 14 years.

Absolute Black Granite from Chinnanagarm

Absolute Black Granite located in South Central India. This is one of the largest mining operations of the company. The quarry is located in Chinnanagarm Village, Nellikuduri Mandal, Warangal Dist, Andhra Pradesh State, India The actual mining occupies 150,000 sqm with support area of 300,000 sqm. A basic intrusive rock more in the form of dye with country rock being khandolite. The leaner body extent approximately Kilometer long with width varying between 40 - 70 mtrs.

The Primary and secondary sawing are executed through diamond wire saw whereas fine drills are used for territory (final) separation and block squaring and dressing. No explosives win be used in production operations. The stone is dean and good recovery on processing. The deposit yields very large blocks used for Slabs, Tiles, Monuments

The Production to around 4000 cbm per annum in mixed sizes which comes in three shades namely, Dark, Medium and Light. The Machinery used : Excavators - CAT 330C, Volvo, Tata Hitachi Ex-300, Wiresaw Machines, CP & Ingressol Rand compressors, Derrick Cranes, Generators, etc. and about 200 people are employed. The quarry is being operated since 11 years.

Oxford Blue from Santhasinghapur

The Oxford Blue quarry is located in Santhasinghapur Village, Balugaon Taluk, Kurda District in Orissa State. The quarry extends over an area of 5.4396 Hectares. The Nature of deposit is A anorhositic part of Puri Anorthositic complex. The feldspar is plagioclase, laborites forming 95% with the ferro magnesium mineral. This stone is completely divide of silica. Its width varying between 100 to 200 mtrs and length between 600 to 700 mtrs. Colour of the feldspar is blue to gray with the mixed forming dark grey background.

The quarry Produces 1200 CBM per annum. The Quarry deploys Machinery like 2 Excavators, 3 Compressors, Wiresaw and Generator. There are about 30 people employed in quarry operations. The quarry is in operation for the past 2 years. The material produced gives a translucent affect when polished both sides.

Green Galaxy from Trichy

This quarry is located in Ammachatram Village, Kulathur Taluk, Pudukkottai District of Tamil Nadu. The quarry spreads over an Extent of 5 Hectares. The deposit is an anorthositic body more in the form of leaner emplacement in basic charnokite country rock, younger intrusion fresh when compared with country rock below the sub surface of deposit along with about 2 K.ML long width being 40 to 100 mtrs. The feldspars are bluish to greenish colour with botanies, laboritic imparting of colours such as, deep blue, brilliant white etc. this is very valuable stone and rare in occurrence.

The quarry Produces 1200 CBM of Rough Granite Blocks per annum. The quarry deploys Machinery like 2 Excavators, 3 Compressors, Wiresaw and Generator. There are about 100 people employed in production. The quarry is in operation since 6 months.

Sapphire Brown from Madikonda

Sapphire Brown Quarry is Situtated in Madikonda Village, Kazipet Mandal, Warangal District.A quartz feldspathic rock having large brown laps of feldspar dominating the stone imparting brown colour. Quartz is huge at places tending towards blue shades providing good background. The other major constituents is biotate / horn blend. The deposit is more of gentile slopping, massive, deep seated, raising above the ground to 30 mtrs. It is part of the younger rocks. The quarry is Being operated since 6 years.

The Production in the quarry is 1500 cbm per annum in Big sizes used mainly for slabs. The Machinery deployed is Hitachi Excavator, Wire saw machines, Compressors, Tippers, etc. The quarry employs about 25 people.

Giallo Firenza from Jugalpat

The quarry is located in Jugalpat Village, Bolangir Taluk, Bargadh District in Orissa State. The quarry is spread over an Extent of 6 Hectares. The Mature of deposit is A gneiss feldspar rock wherein the feldspars are leaned giving yellow colour. This part of the khandolitic rock of eastern ghats of India. The deposit is foliated, leaned body extending to 700 mtrs length with width varying from 40 -100 mtrs. The height of the deposit at its peak is 40 mtrs.

The quarry Produces 1800 CBM per annum. The Machinery deployed are 2 Excavators, 3 Compressors, Wiresaw and Generator. The quarry employs 30 people. The quarry is in operation since 6 months. The material produced is good for Slabs, Tiles, Monuments.

The mining operations of the company are also at the following locations

• White Granite quarry at Jalampaly, Vizag Dist. Andhra Pradesh. India.
• Marble quarry at Sidhavatam, Kadapa Dist., Andhra Pradesh, India.
• Marble quarry at Umpavally, Koraput Dist., Orissa, India.
• Yellow Granite quarry at Palghot, Kerala, India.
• Yellow Granite quarry at Bolangir, Orissa, India.

PROCESSING OPERATIONS

The processing operations of the Group are at the following locations.

• The combined granite and marble processing plant for slabs and tiles in Bangalore, India at an annual capacity of 1, 00,000 sq.mtr. This is being expanded to 2, 50,000 sq.mtr using new multi wire diamond technology for sawing.
• Processing plant for Marble, Limestone, Travertine, Sand Stone etc., at I.D.A. Autonagar, Vizag, Andhra Pradesh, India with an installed capacity of 3,00,000 Sq.mtr. This is being expanded to include granite and other siliceous stones.
• Tiles manufacturing unit at I.D.A. Patancheru, Medak Dist., Andhra Pradesh, India for manufacture of finished tiles of Marble, Granite, Limestone, Travertine, and Sandstone etc having an annual capacity of 50,000 SQM.
• Processing plant for slabs and tiles of Marble and calcareous stones with an annual capacity of 4, 00,000 sq.mtrs at Biyagama Export Processing Zone, Biyagama, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
• Newly acquired plant of GRAPCO, India at Bangalore, India with an annual capacity of 2.50.000 Sq.mtr of Granite Slabs will be commissioned by June 2004 after renovation.

LIST OF MAJOR EQUIPMENTS

• Granite Gang Saws 11 No. (Simec, Hensel, Bra & Bretton)
• Marble Gang Saws 8 No. (Friends Engineering)
• Grinding & Polishing Lines 5 sets (Simec, Frugoli, and Bra & Bretton)
• Tiles Line 2 sets (Simec & Hensel)
• Fabrication 1 set full pledged dedicated set up apart from integrated facility at each plant.

TRADING OPERATIONS:

The company is trading and operating out of Chicago, Illinois in the name and style of Midwest Granite & Marble Inc. It imports natural stone from various countries including India, China, South Africa, Italy, Spain, Brazil etc., and distributes the same in North America. It has 5 dedicated Sales personnel apart from the required support staff. It has established itself very fast in the market and planning to expand its operations on continuous basis. It has offices at Chicago, New Jersey, Atlanta. This also provides an advanced information system of market trends including customer preferences, evolution of product specifications, pricing structure and other inputs in the parent organization

MARKET PROMOTION AND SALES DISTRIBUTION:

The company has established market linkages to the number of direct customers in all the important markets, agency and distribution system, in many key areas and enjoys good loyalty of its customers.

The company participates in most of the important International Trade Shows. It has in place a compact team of marketing and sales personnel to reach out to the market and meet the customer needs.

PRODUCTS

GRANITE / MARBLE / LIME STONE

1. Calibrated Tiles
2. Finished Slabs
3. Semi - Finished slabs
4. Fabricated items
5. Squared and Dressed Blocks

PROJECTS

Projects Executed

Four major Casinos executed along Carara - di - Carara, of Los Vegas, Novena, USA.
Eurekat Towers, Australia
Sheraton Hotel, Chennai, India.

Projects under execution

AIMST, Kedardarul Malaysia
Mall of Emirates, Dubai
Melbourne Towers, Australia.

NEW INITIATIVES:

The company has been striving for cutting down the cost and improving the quality of its product. The company is fast in adopting new technologies. In order to achieve these objectives, it has chosen to promote the diamond tool technology in natural stone industry on its part. It has decided to set up a diamond tool manufacturing unit in Colombo, Sri Lanka for making specialized tools for natural stone industry. The unit will go into stream in the Month of May 2004.

STRENGTHS OF THE COMPANY

The company has recognized by the Government of India as an "Export House" under manufacture and exporter category which afford additional advantages and incentives in terms of export & import policy.

1. PROCESS KNOWLEDGE

During its two decades of existence, the company has acquired a good amount of process knowledge. The result is that the operations are efficient, processes are well established and the company is very dependable and valuable to its partners.

2. BUSINESS FOCUS

The entire focus of the company is on natural dimensional stone in which it has proven expertise. It has emerged as one of the key players in the industry. On account of its clear focus on dimensional stone, the goals are very clear i.e. to improve the quality and cut down the cost on a continuous basis making its product more affordable. Now Midwest is in the phase of aggressively exploring new markets for its products and simultaneously planning to cope up with impending raise in the demand for higher production leading to expansion of capacity. Exploration processes also bring opportunities by way of finding new deposits and new varieties of stones resulting in expansion of the product range.

3. INFRASTRUCTURE

The company has the necessary infrastructure in place in terms of managerial & technical capability, financial strength and process knowledge. Marketing and distribution, infrastructure and other related areas are being addressed to undertake controlled & viable expansion of business.

4. WIDE SPECTRUM of PRODUCTS

The company offers wide range of products such as special types of granite, marble Lime stone, travertine in slabs, tiles, prefab stone, blocks and other forms. This gives an edge over other suppliers particularly for project needs.

5. STABLE FINANCIALS

The financial strength of the company is growing steadily from time to time enabling the company to explore several new opportunities in terms of acquiring additional production capabilities based on existing market conditions.

6. H.R.POLICIES

The company is able to attract good talent into its fold and maintain good industrial relations.

7. R&D BASE

The company is known for its innovation. It has R &D facilities for exploration, testing and process. The Chairman of the company is involved directly in R & D activity and heads the team.

Group Companies